Printer&#39;s roller



Oct. 28, 1947. D. E. cREws A PRINTERS ROLLER Y Filed Aug. 6, 1943 Patented Oct. 28, A1947 Don E. Crews, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to Saml Binghams Son Mfg. Co.,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August e, 1943, serial No. 497,598

This invention relates to improvements in printers rollers and to the method of making the same. The improved rollers are useful either as dampening rollers in lithographie processes or in ink transfer mechanisms of printing presses.

Dampening rollers used in lithographieV processes frequently are provided with woven fabric surfaces which in the course of use retain ink and other matter and necessitate cleaning. Brushes generally are employed by workmen in cleaning the fabric and the resulting attrition kof the fabric substantially. shortens its period of usefulness. Due to the woven character ofthe fabric, the bristles do not easily penetrate the fabric and hence thorough cleansing is diicult. Transfer rollers, especially those used in ink transfer mechanisms of high speed presses, frequently are damaged by impact with the driven fountain rollers, and where their surfaces are non-absorptive or are of low ink absorptive or pick-up capacity, they frequently create an ink mist in the room which is wasteful of the ink and objectionable for hygienic reasons.

One object of the invention is to provide a roller having a ber surface which is adequately absorptive of water, dampening fluids or inks, depending on the use to which the roller is applied, and Awhich can be cleaned, as with a brush for example, more readily than conventional woven fabric covered rollers and with less damaging attrition of the roller surface.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a roller having an absorptive covering that can be applied readily to rollers bodies of any diameter and withthe desired tension and provides a uniform working surface. l

Another object of the invention relates to the method of covering a roller body.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a roller having an absorbent liber working surface, the superficial threads or strands of which are highly resistant to displacement by peripheral impact with another roller and which, while durable, is readily renewable.

In the accompanying drawing wherein one form of the improved roller is shown for illustrative purposes,

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a printers roller embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central sectional view (partly in front elevation) illustrating the roller in different stagesof manufacture;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view taken on line.

view of a section ofroller 4 claims. (ci. gi-67.8) r 1 in section in'Fig. 2 which may be of a suitable composition material; such as rubber, for eXample, to afford suitable resilience, yalthough other materials having suitable characteristics for particular uses may be employed.

The cover of the roller which provides a durable and relatively easily cleaned-working surface thatv has been `foundsatisfactory for dampening Yrollers used in lithographie processes and in ink transfer mechanisms of printing Ymachines is helically appliedto thegbody ofthe roller. V'I'he material illustrated-(Flam is in strand form as indicated at I3 in Fig. 4i, that is, vthe strandis composed of a group of ends or threads twisted or helically intertwined. For the two specificr uses abovementioned, strands formed-of long fiber or sea Yisland cotton have been found most satisfactory and may beassumed `to be the materialishown in the drawings for illustrative purposes.

Iny commerce such a 'strand of the material mentioned is frequently referred to as ready rope." In commercially availablev ready rope thekstrands are not particularly rm becauseof therelatively low degree of twist ofthe threads into strand'form, butin use in accordance with the present improvements, the firmness vmay be varied byincreasing or decreasing the'extent of twist of the strand. The firmness of the resulting roller'cover therefore can be controlled by varying the degree of twist of the strand prior to or at the timeof applicationv to the roller body. A strand can be applied'to a roller body by anchoring one end 0f; the strand to anY end of the body, rotating the roller as in a lathe and guiding the strand ina helical pathas it is wound kupon the body as illustrated, inthe right-handgportion of Fig. 2. In order to provide va relatively smooth cylindrical outer` working surface, the outer peripheral surfacesof the convolutionsof the helically disposed strand must be fiattened, that is, iiattened in transverse section. `VThis result may be accomplished by an ironing process, for example, by holding a smooth fiat instrument against the outer surface of the cover as the roller rotates.

AThe pressing or ironing instrument should have a smooth surface which, while it will level the semi-cylindrical contour of the convolutions into a smooth substantially continuous cylindrical surface will not abrade or scuff the threads. A satisfactory instrument is illustrated at I5 in Fig. 2, the'unheated ironing or smoothing surface It thereof that `'is pressed against the roller covering being plate glass.

Anys'uitable means may be employed for attaching the ends of the strand I3 to the roller. In `Fig.2 of the drawings, the roller illustrated is, provided with discsV II, onek adjacent each en d of the body I2 and which are fixed to the shaft. A second pair of relatively movable ydiscs I 8 is shown, one adjacent each of the discs 'I 1 and each secured to one of the latter by a threaded stud I9 which passes through an arcuate slot 20 in a disc I8. Theillustrative arrangement permits of limited relative rotation of the discs I 8 with respect to the adjacent disc I'I for applying tension when desired to the anchored ends of theY strand. The studs I9 are shown each with anutv 2| and a lock nut 22 for locking the adjacent discs together. y

In applying a covering to a roller mounted for rotation, as in a machine lathe, one end of the strand is secured beneath ahead of a screw 23 carried by the adjacent disc I8. The strand I3 is then passed under a finger 24 struck from .the disc I8 and passed over to the outer surface of the body I2 of the roller. The roller is rotated and the strand is wound helically under suitable tension upon the body. The other end of the strand is then anchored to the second screw 23 after drawing the end under the adjacent finger 24 to retain the strand tautly upon the roller. During the winding of the strand upon the roller the ironing element I is pressed firmly against the convolutions vas the winding of the strand progresses and may be passed back and forth along the surface of the rotating cover to produce a relatively smooth cylindrical working surface. It has been found advantageous to wet the strand with water priorto applying it to the roller, since it is morereadily given a flat surface when wet and the resultant shrinkage that occurs as it dries tightens it firmly upon the roller body and likewise prevents excessive loosening upon the roller when later wetted during use. To the water used in wetting the strand as it is applied t0 the roller, substances may be added if desired which improve particular characteristics of the cover. For example, the addition of a suitable wetting agent or agents improves the ability of the cover to pick up water and ink in use.

In order to support the innersurfaces of the convolutions of the strand against inward displacement during use which would impair the regularity of the outer cylindrical surface of the nished cover, the surface of the body I2 of the roller shown in Fig. 2 is provided with a helical groove or channel 25 of the diameter snugly to receive the strand and of a lead suchthat the adjacent convolutions of the strand will bein closely abutting relation upon application of the strand to the roller body. The helical grooving of the body provides formations 26 which ll the spaces between the inner portions of contiguous convolutions of the strand and hence support the abutting portions of the strand convolutions against inward displacement during use. The supporting formations 26 are shown integral with the roller body, but it is contemplated that they may be non-integral and applied tothe body concurrently with the application of the strand, for example. Y

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the degree of twist of the` threads about the axis of-the strand is such that upon application of the strand to the roller the threads at the exposed outer surface extend generally in the direction of the strand but are not parallel therewith (see Fig. 2). Hence, if a thread is broken. in use, the loose ends cannot continue to unwind since each-exposed portion of 4a thread is relatively short, but, due to the fact that none of the, threads lie directly transversely of the strand, as with woven fabric covers, the improved covers can be cleaned readily: by brushing-generally in the direction of the strands or in a direction substantially parallel v with the exposed portions of the threads which avoids yunduly abradingor scufling them. The removal of ink or other materialsretained by the improved covers after use is relatively easily acjcomplished since the bristles of a brush, moved substantially parallel with the exposed portions of the threads constituting the cover surface, can penetrate between the threads quite freely and dislodge foreign matter.

It will be observed also that the stresses imposed on the superficial 0r exposed threads of the cover by impact with a rotating roller, are exerted irl directions generally lengthwise of the threads and hence there is little tendency to displace the threads fromV their original positions and as a result the cover satisfactorily retains its substantially smooth outer working surface.

While an embodiment of the improvements has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, variations therein may be utilized within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A printers roller having a cylindrical body and a cover thereon comprising a fibrous strand of helically intertwined threads, the strand enveloping the body in contiguous helicalv convolutions each havingan outer periphery flat in transverse section and together providing a substantially continuous cylindricall outer working surface.

twined threads, said strand lying in said channel in contiguous laterally abutting convolutions each having an outer periphery at in transverse section and formed of sections of the threads extending generally in the direction of the strand Y convolution and together providing a substantially continuous cylindrical outer working` surface.

3. A printers roller comprising a cylindrical body and Va cover thereon comprising a strand of fibrous material embracing the body in laterally abutting helicalconvolutions having outer peripheries flat in transversehsection land providing a continuous outer surface,1said"strand comprising a plurality of fibrous threads helically intertwined andindividually presenting relatively short sections in the outer surface of the cover. k

4. A printers roller comprising a cylindrical body and a cover thereon comprisinga strand of fibrous material embracing the bodylin' laterally abutting helical convolutions having outer peripheries flat in transverse section and providing a continuous outersurfacd said strand comprising a plurality of fibrous threads helically intertwined and individually presenting relatively short sections in the outer surface of the cover which extend vgenerallyin the direction of lrotation of the roller. y

DON CREWS.

REFERENCES CITED VThe following references are of record lin the Y ile of this patent:v

'diurno STATES PATENTS 

